Biking mamas what accessories are awesome?

[sapphire_chan]

With any luck, I'll be getting a bike today and a seat for dd tomorrow. Besides a helmet for me, and bags for stuff, what are your "must haves" for biking?

Primary use will be along a totally smooth trail in the daytime to get to parks.

Oh! And as for bags for stuff, any particular types that you love/hate?

[Picard]

Congrats! Biking is so much fun. DS and I have been biking (him in a back seat) all summer and fall. The only other two things I would get are a lock and a bell/horn.

[ParisApril]

I second the horn and lock.

-Comfortable grips like these http://www.bherrmans.fi/products/gri...oDD14Cork.html

-lights for night biking, then you don't have to worry about getting stuck in the dark

-I like to wear biking gloves as well.

What kind of bike and child seat did you get?

[sapphire_chan]

A 30 year old Schwinn Breeze (does have hand brakes, not coaster brakes ), and a Bell child seat thing.

Not the best available by any stretch, but quite reasonable for $90.

Actually, I have no idea if the seat will work with the bike, but for $10, it's worth getting it and trying it out.

All the places I'm thinking of going by bike are within 5miles, mostly by trail (you know you're jealous) so we're not talking particularly intense travel.

[sapphire_chan]

It occurs to me that I should clarify one point, dd already has a helmet.

[Breastisbest2008]

I was thinking of starting too.....but not sure what is best tandem bike?

[ParisApril]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

A 30 year old Schwinn Breeze (does have hand brakes, not coaster brakes ), and a Bell child seat thing.

Not the best available by any stretch, but quite reasonable for $90.

Actually, I have no idea if the seat will work with the bike, but for $10, it's worth getting it and trying it out.

All the places I'm thinking of going by bike are within 5miles, mostly by trail (you know you're jealous) so we're not talking particularly intense travel.

Hopefully the seat fits. I cant see why it wouldn't.
You gotta love bike trails. We have a lot around here as well and we ride on them a ton. We can bike North to the next city and beyond or south all the way to Lake Erie.

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

It occurs to me that I should clarify one point, dd already has a helmet.

[bec]

I would definitely get a water bottle holder. Even for 5 mile jaunts, nothing sucks more than to be thirsty (or have a thirsty kid) and not have any water. I also use bike gloves!

[sapphire_chan]

Does anyone know if they make water bottle holders for the kid seats? Cause dd would be thrilled to be able to just reach and get it for herself.

[ParisApril]

The bike guru AKA DH says they sell a water bottle holder that will mount to anything with velcro.

http://www.twofish.biz/bike.html

http://www.twofish.biz/pdf/StainlessCages.pdf

[sunnmama]

My #1 Most Important Biking Accessory (after a good helmet): a soft gel seat

Bike gloves are another must for me. My fingers get tingly/numb without them.

I also have a bell, which is great for alerting walkers that you are approaching.

I have a bottle holder but don't use it, because I wear a small backpack with our food/water for the park outing. Also, in the summer, the water gets warm too fast unless it is in an insulated bottle/sleeve--and mine don't ft in the bottle holder. Anyway, I prefer to use the backpack

bib08--we have an In Step trail-a-bike that my dd used for 3+ years, and now is being used by my 3 yo son. I think we paid about $80, on sale at Sports Authority (6 years ago). I'm sure it isn't the Best, but it has been perfectly functional and durable!

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by ParisApril

The bike guru AKA DH says they sell a water bottle holder that will mount to anything with velcro.

Thanks! Vintage bikes don't have mounting holes.

Which made getting the kid seat mounted....interesting. We're using the fender holes and nuts/bolts.

Did a test ride tonight just around our block a couple of times. I'm going to be slow for a long while, especially with the extra weight in back, but definitely faster and easier than walking.

I'm going to go to the local bike shop to get rack/bag advice. I was willing to risk not being able to mount a $10 kid seat, but not $50+ worth of rack/bags.

Probably going to end up with a front rack which can decrease maneuverability, but for the routes I'll be taking, I can always get off and pick the bike up and set it down in the new direction. Also a front rack would help balance out dd's weight in back.

One way or another, I'm going to end up IN SHAPE!

Btw, did you know that helmets now have an adjuster knob thingy? So awesome! Last time I fitted a helmet for myself, it was like a dozen random little pads. Turns out dd's helmet has an elastic bit to help it fit--I had been thinking it fit surprisingly well right off the shelf.

[lifeguard]

I have a basket on the front that clips on & off really easily. It is awesome & I'm SUPER glad I got it.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

I have a basket on the front that clips on & off really easily. It is awesome & I'm SUPER glad I got it.

How much weight does it hold? I was thinking of a basket, but then the blurb for it talked about how awesome it was to be able to hold a couple of two-liters. Or a 6pack and some chips. Not exactly going to cut it for a bag of groceries, y'know?

Otoh, there was the picture with a black lab puppy riding in a basket, so yeah, I really just couldn't tell enough to feel okay ordering online.

(What will probably end up happening is I'll sew some hook and loop tape to a bag I already have and finagle it onto the bike in a way that looks bad but rides 1/2 way okay.)